Prince William 'wants a tattoo'

Prince William is keen to get a tattoo, it has been reported.

Prince William was said to be keen to get a large tattoo like that of David Beckham'sPhoto: PA/GETTY

2:49PM BST 11 Aug 2008

But the Prince, 26, has apparently been deterred from going under the needle by his girlfriend, Kate Middleton.

Prince William reportedly told his former navy colleagues that he would like a large design, similar to the angel boasted by the footballer David Beckham, to be tattooed on to his back.

One sailor from HMS Iron Duke, in which Prince William was serving in the Caribbean earlier this month, was reported to have said: "Lots of the guys onboard sport tattoos.

"It was obvious William was fascinated. He asked how painful it was and wanted to know what they thought of his idea for a tattoo across his shoulders.

"We didn't think he was serious - but he said he was keen to get a large tattoo like the one David Beckham has. He said the only thing stopping him was his girlfriend. He was worried she would think it was a bit too chavvy," the sailor told The Sun.

The Prince spent two months in Iron Duke searching for drugs pirates. After returning from his summer holiday he is to resume his training at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Whitehall, before spending time with the SAS the Royal Navy's Special Boat Squadron and the elite Special Reconnaissance Regiment.

Next year the Prince will move into more sedate aspects of his training for kingship, including a stint working at the Foreign Office and being briefed by privy councillors including Sir John Major, the former prime minister.